Burke to have final say in Harlequins swansong
Burke, preparing for Saturday's Parker Pen final against Montferrand, admitted it will be a sad farewell from the Stoop.
The 31-year-old said: "We have seen an increase in average attendances in each of the last four years and now Quins have submitted plans to build a new stand to cater for the new fans.
"When I first arrived we expected around 2,500 to turn up but this season the sold-out notices have been put up on a regular basis and this is an exciting time for everyone.
"But I have been offered the chance of a two-year contract with Munster and it's an opportunity I couldn't turn down," he admitted. "I thought long and hard because I'm leaving a special group of people at Quins. We have a fantastic team spirit and I can assure everyone that our never-say-die attitude will be there for all to see against Montferrand."
On Saturday, the club will take 10,000 supporters to Reading. It's been a remarkable change in fortunes and Burke, with more than 1,000 points in four seasons, has been central to the improvement that has converted new fans to the cause.
For Burke, the success story makes his decision to quit the club easier to deal with.
Having given so much to Quins and helped improve their Zurich Premiership final position in each of those four seasons, no one is going to accuse Burke of baling out.
Another European trophy Quins won the tournament in 2001 would be the perfect exit.
"Four years ago Quins offered me a platform to show off my qualities in the Premiership. I had always considered Quins to be one of the elite clubs and when you pull on that famous jersey you become part of that history."
Quins signed the out-half from Cardiff in 2000 after the Welsh club's fans voted Burke their Player of the Season.
Burke's first attempt to win over the Quins fans ended with a broken arm against Dax in the Shield that kept him out for three months. "That was frustrating, but it was a season that saw us in two cup finals losing to Newcastle at Twickenham and defeating Narbonne to land the European Shield."
What Burke omits to mention is that he scored 22 points in that Tetley's Bitter Cup final against Newcastle, breaking the record set by Paul Grayson the previous year, and a further 27 points to defeat Narbonne.
Now, that trusty right boot will be needed against a Montferrand side boasting French stars Olivier Magne, Gerald Merceron and Tony Marsh.
Burke will be the main target for Magne, one of the world's top flankers, but he has survived that kind of threat in 13 internationals with Ireland.
He said: "They have powerful backs but we have key players behind a good pack, like Will Greenwood and young wing Ugo Moyne.
"Ugo is not only quick, he's strong. Montferrand will try to shackle his talents but it will be a brave man who goes one-on-one with him."
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